Rotary perforating device



Sept. 14, 1965 w. F. HUcK 3,205,744

ROTARY PERFORATING DEVICE Original Filed May 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f fo 6 WILLIAM F. HUCK ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1965 w. F. HUCK 3,205,744

ROTARY PERFORATING DEVI CE Original Filed May l2, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TNVENTOR.

WIL LIAM F. HUCK ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1965 w. F. HUCK ROTARY PERFORATING DEVICE Original Filed May 12. 1960 ATTORNEY Sept. 14, W. F. HUCK I ROTARY PERFORATING DEVICE Original Filed May l2, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.'

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM F. HUCK o ooooooooooooooooooo @xL/ 2J ATTORNEY 3,205,744 ROTARY PERFORATING DEVICE William F. Huck, 81 Greenway Terrace, Forest Hills, Long Island, N.Y.

Original applications May 12, 1960, Ser. No. 28,609, now Patent No. 3,174,428, dated Mar. 23, 1965, and July 19, 1960, Ser. No. 43,839. Divided and this application Feb. 2.4, 1965, Ser. No. 435,018

17 Claims. (Cl. 83-345) This invention relates generally to perforating devices that form patterns of holes in webs of paper, cloth, felt metal sheet or foil and the like, for example, webs that have been printed with multiple geometric patterns, as in the case of postage and commercial stamps. The

.present application is a division of the co-pending applications for U.S. Letters Patents of William F. Huck, identified as Serial No. 28,609, led May 12, 1960, and now Patent No. 3,174,428, and Serial No. 43,839, tiled July 19, 1960.

In the past, webs having postage or commercial stamps printed thereon were usually perforated by devices employing reciprocating or oscillating flat die plates. During each operating stroke, the reciprocating or oscillating iiat die plates of such perforating devices simultaneously form the rows of holes extending both transversely and longitudinally in a portion of the web representing one or more sheets of the stamps to be produced. Since it is possible to obtain relatively great depth of engagement of the perforating pins in the die holes when using reciprocating or oscillating fiat die plates, the clean cutting of the perforated holes can be easily accomplished. Another advantage ofthe use of reciprocating or oscillating fiat die plates resides in the fact that, in producing such die plates, the plate for holding the perforating pins, the stripper plate and the plate intended to have the die holes can be stacked and then drilled through in a single pass in order to economically ensure the working accuracy of the perforating pins with respect to the holes in the stripper plate and the female die plate.

The major disadvantage of employing reciprocating or oscillating at die plates for the perforating of webs is the limitation on the speed of operation inherent in the reciprocation or oscillation of the heavy masses of such die plates while seeking to maintain the relative positional accuracy of all of the moving parts necessary for the perforation of small and closely spaced apart holes.

Thus, the United States Government in its production of postage stamps, and those manufacturers producing trading or other commercial stamps in great quantities, currently use rotary perforating devices operating at as high speeds as practicable. Such rotary perforating devices generally comprise cylindrical male dies lor perforating spin holders cooperating with Icylindrical female dies and being accurately geared to each other for effecting their joint rotation with the perforating pins of the male die successively entering the related die holes of the cylindrical female die to form corresponding perforations in the web fed between the cooperating cylindrical male and female dies. However, in the existing rotary perforating devices, the perforating pins may enter the die holes only to a relatively small depth because of the relative angular motion between the axes of the pins and holes, respectively, during their mutual engagement, and this limitation on the depth to which the perforating pins may enter the die holes adversely affects the clean cutting of the perforated holes, particularly during high speed operation. The existing rotary perforating devices further present difficulties in initially accurately aligning the perforating pins or male punches with the female die holes, and in rapidly and accurately reengaging the perforating pins and die holes of the cooperating male and .United States Patent O 3,205,744 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 ICC female die cylinders, for example, when it becomes necessary to repair or replace worn or otherwise defective parts thereof.

Rotary perforating devices for producing transversely and longitudinally extending rows of relatively small, closely spaced apart holes in webs must be complex, precise and relatively expensive assemblies of cooperating components, and it is inherent, in such rotary perforating devices, that the perforating pins and die holes of the male and female die cylinders are subjected to a high degree of wear. However, the existing rotary perforating devices have proved to be extremely expensive to manufacture and to maintain, particularly during high speed operation.

Accordingly, it is generally an object of this invention to provide a rotary perforating device of the kind having cooperating perforating cylinders operating on a printed or other web to form patterns, for example, transversely and/or longitudinally extending rows, of holes or perforations, and which is capable of successfully operating at a substatntially higher speed than that possible with the existing rotary perforating devices.

Another object is to provide a rotary perforating device of the described character wherein the male and female die cylinders are respectively provided with pins and female dies that are readily removable and easily replaceable in groups or units, or individually.

A further object is to provide a rotary perforating device of the described character wherein each pair of male and female die units is constructed in a manner to permit the initial accurate alignment of the perforating pin and female die units thereof prior to the commencement of normal operation, and then to securely maintain such accurate alignment during normal high speed operation.

Still another object is to provide a rotary web perforating device of the described character wherein the pin yor male die units are mounted on the respective cylinder in a manner to permit small displacements of the pins for accurate alignment with the corresponding female dies during high speed operation, and also for allowing deep penetration of the perforating pins into the female die holes.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the male cylinder of a rotary web perforating device comprises a cylindrical body, a series of parallel pin holding members extending, in side-by-side relation, over relatively narrow surface areas of the body and having corresponding groups of the perforating pins mounted thereon, and slightly yieldable means securing each of the pin holding members on the body to permit the small displacements of the holding members and of the pins thereon necessary for accurate alignment with, and deep penetration into the corresponding female die holes.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the slightly yieldable means securing the pin holding members on the body of the male cylinder include mounting screws passing radially inward, with substantial clearance, through bores in the holding members and threadably engaging in tapped holes formed in the cylinder body.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the body of the male cylinder of a rotary web perforating device having the characteristics referred to above is further provided with axially directed flanges at its opposite ends, and the pin holding members are in the form of axially extending bars which are further secured to the cylinder body by means of additional mounting screws passing radially outward through clearance holes in the end flanges and being threadably engaged in the end portions of the bars constituting holding members to permit initial tightening of such additional mounting screws While the pins carried by the related bars are engaged in the corresponding female die holes.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary web perforating device embodying 4this invention taken in a plane passing through the .axes of rotation of one set of male and female die cylinders for forming the perforations in transversely extending rows; v

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. l to show the structural features of the male and female die cylinders of that view;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail viewof the surface ofthe male die cylinder in FIGS. l and 2, as viewed in the direction of arrows 3-3 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing a set of male land female die cylinders lincluded in the rotary web perforating device ifor forming the perforations in rows which extend longitudinally with respect to the web; FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5 5 on FIG. 4 to show the structural deltails of the male and female die cylinders of that View;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken yalong the line `6 6 on FIG. 5;'

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to the views of FIGS. 2 and 5, but showing the structural features of a set of male and female die cylinders operative to form the perforations in intersecting rows extending transversely and longitudinally with respect to the web', and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail viewof the surface of the male die cylinder in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 4 thereof, it will be seen that a rotary perforating device embodying this invention includes spaced apart side frame members 21 and 22 between which there are mounted a rotary perforating unit 23 (FIG. 1) adapted to form perforations in rows extending transversely with respect to a web, and a rotary perforating unit 24 (FIG. 4) which acts on the web following the formation of the transversely extending rows of perforations therein by the unit 23, and which is adapted to form longitudinally extending rows of perforations in the web. The perforating units 23 and 24 may be associated with longitudinal and transverse register control mechanisms and with a tension control mechanism, disclosed in detail in U.S. patent application Serial No. 43,839 which is identified fully above, and which ensure that the transversely longitudinally extending rows of perforations register correctly with each other and with repetitive patterns previously printed on the web.

As shown on FIGS. l and 2, rotary perforating unit 23 includes a male die cylinder 25 having a suitably arranged pattern of perforating `pins or punches 26 projecting radially therefrom to form the perforations or holes in transversely extending rows, and a female die cylinder 27 disposed below the cylinder 25 and having a correspondingly arranged pattern of female die holes 28 in its surface to receive the perforating pins 26 as the cylinders and 27 are jointly rotated with the web (FIG. 2) passing therebetween, whereby the perforating pins 26 and female die holes 28 cooperate to form the desired holes or perforations in the web.

The male die cylinder 25 includes a body 29 having trunnions 30 projecting axially from its ends and rotatably journaled in bearings 31. The bearings 31 may be mounted in eccentric bearing housings 32 which are turnably supported in side frame members 21 and 22. The :female die cylinder 27 also includes a cylindrical body 33 having trunnions 34 projecting axially from its opposite ends and being journaled in bearings 35 mounted in side frame members 21 and 22. It will be apparent that rotation of eccentric bearing housings 32 is effective to increase or decrease the distance between the axes of lcylinders 25 yand 27 for either disengaging or engaging the perforating pins 26 with respect to the corresponding die holes 28.

Although bearing hou sings132 may -be manually turned, the illustrated perforating device has a pneumatically operated system for that purpose which includes a cylinder 36 suspended from side frame member 22 and having its piston rod y37 connected to a bell-crank 38 fixed to a shaft 39 journaled in side frame members 21 and 22 above cylinder 25. Bell-crank 38 is further connected through a link 40 to an extension 41 projecting from the eccentric bearing housing 32 mounted in the adjacent side frame member 22. A radial arm 42 is also fixed to shaft 39 adjacent side frame member 21 and is connected through a link 40 to an extension 41 projecting from the eccentric bearing housing 32 mounted in side frame member 21. Compressed air, or other fluid under pressure, is suitably supplied to one end or the other of cylinder 36 to extend or retract its piston rod 37 for turning shaft 39 and thereby turning bearing housings 32 for either engaging or disengaging the perforating pins 26 with Iespect to the die holes 28.

The rotary drive of the perforating unit 23 is derived from a suitably rotated overhead main drive shaft (not shown) by way of a vertical transmission shaft 43 (FIG. l). The lower end of shaft 43 carries a bevel gear 44 meshing with a bevel gear 45 secured to one end of a cross shaft 46 journaled in bearings carried by side frame members 21 and 22 below female die cylinder 27. The end of shaft 46 remote from gear 45 carries a pinion 47 meshing with .a spur gear 48 secured t-o an extension of the adjacent trunnion 34 of female die cylinder 27. The male die cylinder 25 is driven from gear 48, preferably by way of a backlash takeup gear 49 which is mounted on an extension of the adjacent trunnion 30 of the male die cylinder.

The perforating unit 23 which forms the holes in the transversely extending rows, as previously mentioned, may also beintended to form slits which are longitudinally aligned with the longitudinally extending rows of holes or perforations formed by the perforating unitv 24, as hereinafter described in detail, and which are arranged in transversely extending rows corresponding to the opposite end edges of sheets to be cut from the printed web following the perforation thereof in the device embodying the invention. The slits facilitate the tearing of the individual sheets into strips along the longitudinal rows of perforations.

` The male and female die cylinders of perforating unit 23 have circumferences that are equalto a whole number multiple of the sheet length to be cut from the perforated preprinted web, that is, the distance 'between the successive rows of slits.

As shown in FIG. l, the bodyv 29 of male die cylinder 25 has radially raised, axially directed, circumferential anges 50 at its opposite ends, and a plurality of circumferential, radially raised ribs 51 at axially spaced apart locations between flanges 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, male die cylinder 25 of perforating unit 23 further includes-a circumferentially arranged series of axially extending pin holding members in the form of bars 52 corresponding to the transversely extending rows of holes or perforations to be formed in the web, `and Ione or more knife holding bars 53 correspending to the transversely extending rows of slits to be formed in the web. The opposite ends of the bars 52 and 53 are secured to the flanges 50 by means of mounting screws 54 which are loosely received in radial bores 55 (FIG. 2) formed in the end anges 50 and which threadably engage in tapped bores 56 provided in the end portions of the bars 52 and 53. The .central portions of the bars 52 and 53 are further secured to body 29 at the locations of the ribs 51 by means of mounting screws 57 which are loosely received in bores 58 of the bars 52 and 53 and which threadably engage in tapped bores 59 formed in the body 29 and preferably having counterbored outer end portions 60.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the pins 26 are indivi-dually removable from the bars 52. In order to permit such individual removal of the pins, each of the pin holding bars 52 has a longitudinally extending grove 61 in its outer surface (FIGS. 2 and 3), with one side wall 62 of groove 61 having spaced apart, semi-circular recesses 63 machined therein while the opposite side wall 64 of groove 61 converges towards side wall 62 in the direction toward the bottom 65 of the groove. A wedge bar 66 is received in groove 61 and, along one side edge, s provided with -semicircular recesses 67 matching the recesses 63, while the other side edge is inclined or undercut at the same angle as the side wall 64 of the groove.

The perforating pins 26 are received in the matching semicircular recesses 63 and 67 of each pin holding bar 52 and the related wedge bar 66 and are clamped tightly in such recesses when wedge bar 66 is drawn radially into groove 61 by clamping screws 68 which pass through clearance holes 69 in the wedge bar and threadably engage in tapped bores 70 formed in pin holding bar 52.

It will be seen that the radially projecting height of perforating pins 26 is exactly controlled by abutting the radially inner ends of such pins against a seat formed by the bottom 65 of the related groove 61, While each wedge bar 66 having the recesses 67 matching the recesses 63 of the related pin holding bar 52 serves to rigidly clamp the perforating pins both axially and laterally with respect to the male die cylinder.

Compressible rectangular pieces 71 of rubber or other similar resilient material are cemented to the radially outer surfaces of pin holding bars 52 adjacent the pins 26 and are dimensioned to normally project radially beyond the outer ends of the perforating pins so as to strip the perforated web from the pins 26 while the latter are withdrawing from the female die holes 28 immediately after the perforating of the web. The resiliently compressible pieces also substantially reduce the high level of noise otherwise associated with the formation of the perforations in the transverse rows.

Each of the knife holding bars 53 is formed with a number of rectangular cutouts 72 which are spaced apart therealong and in which knives 73 are suitably clamped.

As shown on FIG. 1, body 33 of female die cylinder 27 has radially raised, circumferentially extending ribs 74 at the opposite ends thereof and also at axially spaced apart locations therebetween, and the ribs 74 are formed with axially aligned cutouts 75 at circumferentially spaced apart locations to receive female die bars 76 which correspond, in number and location, to the pin holding bars 52 of male die cylinder 25, and one or more female die bars 77 which correspond, in number and location, to the knife holding bar or bars 53 of the male die cylinder.

The female die bars 76 and 77 (FIG. 2) are secured to body 33 by means of mounting screws 78 which extend through clearance holes 79 in the female die bars and threadably engage in tapped bores 80 formed in body 33 at the location of ribs 74. Each of the female die bars 76 projects radially outward beyond ribs 74 and, as shown in FIG. 2, the radially outer portion of each die bar 76 has a lateral extension or flange 81 extending along one side edge of the die bar and having its outer face formed with a dovetail slot 82 extending longitudinally along die bar 76 and receiving a die insert 83 of similar cross-sectional shape which is formed with the female die holes 28 corresponding to the perforating pins 26 of the male die cylinder. Further, the ange 81 is formed with enlarged or clearance holes 84 extending radially inward from the die holes 28 and opening into an axially extending cavity 85 which radially underlies the flange 81 and which opens radially outward between the liange 81 and the next adjacent female die bar 76.

When the perforating pins 26 enter the die holes 28 of each die insert 83, the chips punched from web W passing between the male and female die cylinders are easily propelled through the enlarged clearance holes 84 into the related cavity 85, which is relatively voluminous so as to easily accommodate the chips Without jamming of the die holes, and the collected chips fall from each cavity as the latter reaches the bottom of female die cylinder 27, at which point, the surface of the female die cylinder is no longer covered by the web.

Each female die bar 77 als-o projects radially outward beyond the ribs 74 of body 33, and the radially outer surface of die bar 77 is formed with narrow grooves 86 (FIG. 2) which are adapted to receive knives 73 of the related die bar 53 so as to cooperate with such knives in cutting the desired slits into the web W.

It is to be noted that the above described structural details of die cylinders 25 and 27 make it possible to obtain and maintain precise alignment of perforating pins 26 with the related die holes 28. In initially obtaining the desired precise alignment, each female die bar 76 is securely fastened to body 33 of the female die cylinder by -tightening the related screws 78. The corresponding pin holding bar 52 of male die cylinder 25 is initially secured to body 29 by only partially tightening the screws 54 and 57. Cylinders 25 and 27 are then simultaneously turned until the perforating pins 26 of bar 52 undergoing adjustment are located in precise alignment with die holes 28 of the related female die bar. Then the mounting screws 54 which engage the opposite end portions of the adjusted bar 52 are tightened, such Ascrews being accessible `while the pins 26 engage in the related die holes 28, and serving to maintain the desired position of the adjusted bar 52 relative to body 29 during further turning of the die cylinders to a position where the pins 26 of the adjusted ybar 52 no longer engage in the related die holes 78 `and the mounting screws 57 are thus accessible and can be tightened for rigidly holding the bar 52 in its adjusted position during normal high `speed operation.

Further, -it will be noted that, by reason of the clearance `between each mounting screw 57 and the related bore 58 of bar 52 and also the enlarged or counter-bored outer end portion 60 of the related tapped bore 59, each mounting screw 57, which is smaller in diameter and tightening capacity than each of the mounting screws 54, can deilect slightly in a manner similar to a cantilevered beam, so as to permit a certain small amount of freedom of movement of perforating pins 26 relative to the corresponding die holes 28 for ensuring precise alignment with the latter during the perforating operation. The slightly yieldable mounting for the bars 52 constituted by the screws 57, further permits lslight angular displacement of pins 26 when penetrating relatively deeply into die holes 28 and thereby ensures clean and trouble-free perforation of the web during high speed operation of the perforating device.

As shown in FIG. 4, rotary perforating unit 24 which is intended to form the perforations or holes in longitudinally extending rows includes a male die cylinder 87 having a suitably arranged pattern of perforating pins or punches 8S projecting radially therefrom, and a female die cylinder 89 disposed below the cylinder 87 and having a correspondingly arranged pattern of female die holes 90 (FIG. 5) to receive the perforating pins 8S as the cylinders 87 and 89 are jointly rotated with the web W passing therebetween, whereby the perforating pins 88 and female die holes 90 cooperate to form the desired holes or perforations in the web.

The male die cylinder 37 includes a body 91 having trunnions 92 projecting axially from the opposite ends thereof and rotatably journaled in bearings 93 which are mounted in eccentric `bearing housings 94 rotatably supported by side frame members 21 and 22 (FIG. 4).

f The female die cylinder 89 also includes a cylindrical body 95 having trunnions 96 projecting axially from its opposite ends and being rotatably journaled in bearings 97 mounted in side frame members 21 and 22. It will 'be apparent 4that rotation of eccentric bearing housings 94 is effective to vary the distance between the .axes of rotation of cylinders 87 and 89 whereby the perforating pins 88 rnay be successively engaged in the related die holes 90, as during normal operation -of the perforating device, or the` perforating pins may be -withdrawn from ythe dieV holes to facilitate initial threading of the device or the replacement or repair of the removable elements of cylinders 87 and 89 hereinafter described in detail. v The bearing housings 94 may be manually turned or provided with a pneumati'cally operated system of the type described in detail for the bearing housings 32 of the perforating -unit 23.

The cylinders 87 and 89 of unit 24 are driven from the cross-shaft 46 of unit 23, preferably by way of a variable lspeed drive 98 which includes a pulley 99 secured on cross-shaft -46 and a V-belt 100 running around pul. ley 99 and around a variable diameter pulley 101 mounted on a cross-shaft 102 journaled in side frame members 21 and 22 below female die cylinder 89. A pinion 103 .is secured on shaft 102 and meshes with a spur gear 104 lsecured on an extension of the 'adjacent trunnion 96 of `cylinder 89, and gear 104 meshes also with a backlash take-up gear 105 mounted on an extension of the adjacent trunnion 92 of cylinder 87.

As described in detail in U.S. patent application Serial No. 43,839, which is identied more fully above, the variable diameter pulley 101 is of a type in which its radius of contact with belt 100 depends upon the tension in the belt which is, in turn, made dependent upon the relative tensions in web W before and after perforating unit i24.

As shown in FIGS. and 6, male die cylinder 87 of the longitudinal perforating unit 24 further preferably includes an axially arranged ser-ies of male ring assemblies each generally identilied by the reference numeral 106 and each including a mounting ring 107 having a force fit on an antifriction bearing 108 which is rotatable on the cylindrical surface of body 91. As shown in FIG. 4, removable radial pins 109 project from vthe opposite ends of body 91 and serve to conne male ring assemblies 106 Itherebetween, while permitting small axial movements of ring assemblies 106 for alignment purposes.

Each of ring assemblies 106 further includes a pin holding member formed by a mating pair of semi-circular ring sections 110e and 110b (FIG. 5) each having a substantially T-shaped cross-section with the cap of the T being directed radially inward. The pin holding ring sections 110a and 110b are secured to the related mounting ring 107 by mounting screws 111 passing with substantial clearance through radial holes 112 in ring sections 110a and 110b and threadably engaging in tapped holes 113 provided in mounting ring 107. The opposite side edges of the outer peripheries of ring sections 110a and 110b are formed with spaced apart semi-circular recesses 114 for receiving and locating perforating pins 88, and pins 88 are securely clamped in recesses 114 by means of opposed clamping rings 115 and 116 which are secured against the opposite sides of the stern of the T-shaped cross-section of ring sections 110a and 110b by means of clamping screws 117 which pass through axially directed clearance holes 118 in clamping ring 115 and the related ring sections 110a and 110b and threadably engage in tapped axial holes 119 in clamping ring 116 (FIG. 6).

The clamping rings 115 and 116 of each ring assembly 106 have annular, radially directed surfaces confronting the oposite side edges of the outer peripheries of ring sections 110a and 110b and being formed with semi-circular recesses 120 matching the previously described` recesses 114 so that the perforating pins 83 are rigidly clamped in the matching recesses. As shown in FIGS. 5

and 6, each of clampingrings 11S and 116 isV formed with a cylindrical, outwardly facing shoulder 121 against which the inner ends of perforating pins 8S are abutted in order to ensure that perforating pins 88 will project uniformly from the surface of male die cylinder 87.

Resiliently compressible ring pieces 122 formed ,of rubber or other similar material are cemented to the radially outer surface of each of the pinfholding ring sections 110e and 110b and are dimensioned so as to normally project beyond the outer ends of the adjacent pins 88 as is apparent in FIG. 5,'so as to remove the perforated web W from the pins 88 as the latter retract from the female die holes immediately after the longitudinal perforating operation and further to substantially reduce the high level of noise that would otherwise be associated with that perforating operation.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,` female die cylinder 89 of perforating unit'24 further preferably includes an axially arranged series of ring assemblies each generally identilied` by the reference numeral 123 and including a mounting ring 124 which is slidable on body 95 and held against rotation relative to the latter by a key `125. A radial flange 126 is provided at one end of the body 95, and a clamping ring 127 having an outer diameter greater than that of body is secured to the` opopsite end of the latter, as by screws 128, so that the mounting rings124 of the several ring assemblies 123 are axially clamped between ilange 126 and ring 127 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 6, the outer periphery of each mounting ring 124 hasa radially opening circumferential groove 129 for accommodating and accurately 'locating a pair of semi-circular die ring sections 130a and 130b having generally T-shaped cross-sections with their stems extending into the groove 129. The ring sections 130:1 and 13011 are secured to the related mounting ring 124 by means of mounting ,screws 131l passing through radial clearance holes 132 in ring sections 130a and 130]) and threadably engaging in tapped holes 133 formed in mounting ring 124 and opening at the bottom of groove 129. The outer peripheral surfaces of the mating die rings 130a and 13011 of each ring assembly 123 carry two circumferentially extending, removable circular die inserts 134 of dovetail cross-section and having the female die holes 90 formed therein. The diev inserts 134 are also preferably formed in semi-circular halves, and ring sections 130a and 130b are formed with clearance holes 135 in radial alignment with the female die holes 90 to facilitate removal lof chips from the holes 90 of die inserts 134.

As shown in FIG. 6, the caps of the T-shaped crosssections of ring sections 13051 and 130b of adjacent ring assemblies 123 are spaced apart axially and relatively voluminous cavities 136 are delined between such caps and the outer peripheral surfaces of the related mounting rings 124 so that the removed chips can easily collect in the cavities 136 during the perforating operation, and can fall from the cavities 136 through the axial spaces between the adjacent ring sections 130rz-and 13011 at the bottom of female die cylinder 89.

It is to be understood that the previously described, relatively complex constructions of male and female die cylinders 25 and 27 of perforating unit 23 and of male and female die cylinders 87 and 89 of perforating unit 24 have been employed in order to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs. Each of male die cylinders 25 and 87 has individually removable perforating pins 26 and 88 rigidly clamped to pin holding bars 52 or ring sections l10n and 110b and such pin holding bars and ring sections are also individually removable from the respective bodies 29 and 91. Therefore, if any single perforating pin is defective, it may be readily removed and replaced merely by releasing, and subsequently retightening the nearest clampingy screw 68er 117 without removing the related pin hol-ding bar 52Qor pin holding ring section 110:1y or y110b and without the necessity of disengaging the male and female diey cylinders. Similarly, if any one of the pin holding bars 52 or the pin holding ring sections 110a or 11tlb is defective, it may be readily removed and replaced merely by releasing and subsequently reengaging the related mounting screws 54 and 57 or 111 without affecting the adjacent pin holding bars or ring sections, and without disengaging the male and female die cylinders or bodily removing the same from the frame of the perforating device.

Similarly, each of the female die cylinders 27 and 89 has individually removable die inserts 83 or 134 having the female die holes 28 and 90, respectively formed therein and being rigidly clamped in bars 76 and ring sections 130a and 13011, respectively which are, in turn, individually removable from the bodies 33 and 95. Hence, if one or more of the die holes 28 or 90 is defective, the die insert containing such defective hole or holes may be readily removed and replaced without removing the bar 76 or the ring sections 13011 and 130k from the related cylinder body, and without the necessity of disengaging the cooperating male and female die cylinders. Further, if any one of the female die bars 76 or the ring sections 130er or 130b is defective, it may be readily removed and replaced by releasing and subsequently reengaging the related mounting screws 78 or 131 without affecting the adjacent bars or ring sections, and without disengaging the cooperating male and female die cylinders or bodily removing the same from the frame of the perforating device.

It will also be seen that, by reason of the fact that the ring assemblies 106 of male die cylinder 87 are free to turn and to move axially through small distances relative to the body 91, the perforating pins 88 carried by such ring assemblies can seek their own accurate alignment with the female die holes 90 of the related ring assemblies 123 of female die cylinder 89.

It is to be understood that the perforating unit 23 and the perforating unit 24 are adapted to be used individually when it is required to perforate the web W only along transversely extending rows or only along longitudinally extending rows, respectively. Further, as shown on FIGS. 7 and 8, a perforating device embodying the invention may be designed to form rectangular patterns of holes in the web, that is, intersecting transverse and longitudinal rows of holes, during the passage of the web through a single set of male and female die cylinders.

In the perforating device of FIGS. 7 and 8, the male die cylinder 137 includes a cylindrical body 138 having a circumferential series of axially extending pin holding members or back-up bars 139 disposed around the outer surface thereof, and pin holding plates 140 resting against the radially outer surfaces of back-up bars 139 and formed with holes extending therethrough to receive the perforating pins 141. Each of the pins 141 has a head 142 on its inner end and each hole of a plate 140 receiving a pin 141 is suitably countersunk, or otherwise enlarged, at its inner end, to accommodate the head 142 of the pin. Thus, the pins 141 extend radially outward through the related holes of the plates 140 and are held against outward removal by their heads 142, while radially inward movement of the pins 141 is prevented by engagement of the heads 142 of the pins with the radially outer surfaces of the back-up bars 139. Screws 143 extend through suitable holes 144 in plates 140 and back-up bars 139 and are received in tapped bores 145 in body 13S in order to secure the plates 140 and back-up bars 139 to the body. The holes 144 formed in the back-up bars 139 for receiving the screws 143 are preferably oversize so that, in the event of any small misalignment between perforating pins 141 and the related die holes 146 of the female die cylinder 147, the plates 140 and back-up bars 139 can bend slightly about the screws 143 to compensate for such slight misalignment.

As shown particularly on FIG. 8, the perforating pins 141 mounted in each plate 140v are arranged in intersecting rows respectively extending along and across each plate to cooperate with the corresponding die holes 146 in forming the transversely and longitudinally extending rows of perforations in the web passing between cylinders 137 and 147. Of course, the pins 141 and cooperating die holes 146 may be arranged to form differently shaped and dimensioned patterns of holes or perforations in the web.

The female die cylinder 147 also includes a cylindrical body 148 with female perforator plates 149 extending axially and seating against the outer surface of body 148. The plates 149 have the female die holes 146 extending therethrough and are located and secured on body 148 by means of pins 150 and screws 151.

As the pins 141 of male die cylinder 137 enter the corresponding die holes 146 of female die cylinder 147 with the web wrapped around the latter, chips of the web are punched from the web to form the desired perforations and the chips fall into a network of grooves 152 formed in the surface of body 148 so as to underlie the female die holes 146 in plates 149. As disclosed in U.S. patent application Serial No. 28,609, identied more fully above, the grooves 152 may communicate through radial bores (not shown) with a cavity within body 148 which is suitably connected with a source of vacuum to draw the chips out of grooves 152, or the plates 149 may be formed with cutouts 153 which open outwardly from the grooves or cavities 152 so that chips punched Vfrom the web and collected in the cavities 152 fall from the latter through cutouts 153 as the cavities 152 occupy positions near the bottom of the female die cylinder.

In FIG. 7, female die cylinder 147 is shown to be of a type disclosed in detail in U.S. patent application Serial N-o. 28,609, now Patent No. 3,174,428, and having radially outward opening axial slots 154 receiving axially movable cam bars 155 and radially movable expansion bars 156. The expansion bars 155 have projections 157 which extend more or less through cutouts 153 to vary the effective diameter of the female die cylinder upon longitudinal displacement of cam bars 155. The means by which cam bars 155 are displaced, and the purposes of varying the effective diameter of the female die cylinder are not related to the present invention, and thus are not disclosed herein. Further, it is to be understood that the mounting for the perforating pins 141 and the arrangement of the die holes 146 in plates 149 as disclosed herein with reference to the cylinders 137 and 147 of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be applied to other forms of perforating die cylinders.

In any case, it will be apparent that the plates 140 and 149 may be individually removed and replaced merely by disengagement of the related screws 143 and 151 so as to permit replacement of the related perforating pins 141 and die holes 146 as a unit without requiring .disengagement of the cylinders or removal of the latter from the frame of the machine. Further, by reason of the slightly yieldable mounting of plates 14) afforded by screws 143 passing with clearance through holes 144, small displacements of the pins 141 are possible for accurate `alignment with the corresponding die holes 146, particularly when effecting relatively deep penetration into the die holes.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination of at least one set of rotated male and female die cylinders respectively provided with patterned arrangements of radially projecting perforating pins and corresponding die holes adapted to successively receive said pins during rotation of the cylinders and thereby form patterns of perforations in a web passing between the cylinders; said male cylinder comprising a cylindrical body, a series of parallel pin holding members extending in side-by-side relation over relatively narrow surface areas of said body, each of said pin holding members having mean-s mounting a corresponding group of the perforating pins thereon, and slightly yieldable means securing each of said pin holding members on said 4body to permit small displacements of the holding member .and of the pins thereon for accurate alignment with the corresponding die holes.

2. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 1; wherein each of said holding members has radial bores extending therethrough at locations spaced Ialong the holding member, and said body of the male cylinder has tapped holes opening radially outward in -alignment with said bores; and

wherein said mean-s securing the pin holding members on said body include mounting screws passing radially inward through said bores with substantialtclearance therebetween and being threadably engaged in said tapped holes.

3. In a rotary web perforating device, the. combination as in claim 2; wherein said tapped holes have counterbored outer end portions to also provide clearance around said mounting screws.

4. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 2; wherein said means mounting each group of pins on a holding member includes a plate held against the radially outer surface of the holding member and having radial openings therein which are enlarged at their radially inner ends, and said pins extend radially through said openings of the plate and have heads at their inner ends which bear against said outer surface of the holding member and are received in said enlarged inner ends of the plate openings.

5." In -a rotary web perforating device, the combina" tion as in .claim 4; wherein said mounting screws also pass through each plate for removably holding the latter against the cor-responding holding member.

6. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 4; wherein said holding members are in the form of elongated bars extending axially on said body of the male cylinder, and said plates also extend axially along the related bars.

7. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 6; wherein said plates have said openings therein arranged in rows extending longitudinally and transversely with respect to the longitudinal axes of the respective plates.

8. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 2; wherein ysaid pin holding members are in the form of bars extending axially on said body, andsaid body has axially directed flanges at its opposite end; and

wherein said means securing the pin holding members on said body further includes additional mounting screws passing radially outward through clearance holes in said anges and being threadably engaged in the end portions of lsaid 'bars to permit initialtightening of said additional mounting screws while the pins of the related bars are engaged in the corresponding die holes.

9. In a rotary web perforating device, the combinationv as in claim 8; wherein said body of the male cylinder has radially raised circumferential ribs at said opposite ends and at axially spaced apart locations therebetween to bear said bars forming the pin holding members; and

wherein said tapped holes for receiving they rst mentioned mounting screws are located at said ribs of the body. y 10. Ina rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 9; wherein said female die cylinder includes a cylindrical body with radially raised, circumferential ribs at its opposite ends and at axially spaced apart locations therebetween, and female die holding members in the form of axially extending bars bearing on said ribs of the `body of said female cylinder and releasably secured thereto, said ribs of the body of said female die cylinder having axially aligned recesses at circumferentially spaced locations to receive said bars forming the die holding members and positively locate t'he latter.

11. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 1; wherein `said patterned -arrangements consist of parallelrows of the perforating pins and die holes, and said pin holding members extend in the direction of said rows of pins and have radially directed surfaces extending therealong; and

wherein said means for mounting groups of the pins on the holding members include spaced seats for the pins formed in said radially directed surfaces, and clamping means releasably securing the pins in vsaid seats so that the individual pins can be replaced and each of said pin holding members can be replaced as a unit.

12. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination asin claim 11; wherein said female die cylinder includes a cylindrical body, spaced apart die supporting members mounted on the surfacel of said body of the female die cylinder and extending in the direction of said rows of die holes, and individually removable die inserts carried by said die supporting members and containing said die holes so that said die inserts can be individually replaced and said die supporting members can be individually replaced as a unit.

13.' In a rotary webA perforating device, the combination as in claim 11; wherein each of said holding members has a radially -outward opening groove extending therealong with said surface formed with seats for the pins being one side surface of said groove and the opposite side surface of the groove converging toward said one side surface in the radially inward direction; and

wherein said clamping means includes a wedge bar received in said groove of each holding member and engageable at its opposite sides with the side surfaces of said groove, and releasable means forcing said wedge bar radially into the groove to secure the pins -in said seats of said one side surface of the groove.

14. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 11; wherein each of said pin holding members has two of said radially directed surfaces formed with seats at the opposite sides thereof, and said clamping means for each holding member includes clamping members secured to said opposite sides of the holding member to hold pins in said seats of the surfaces at said opposite sides.

15. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination of at least one set of rotated male and female die cylinders respectively provided with patterned arrangements of radially projecting perforating pins and corresponding die holes adapted to successively receive said pins during rotation lof the cylinders and thereby form patterns of perforations in a web passing between the cylinders; said male cylinder comprising a cylindrical body, a circumferentially arranged vseries of axially extending bars on said body, plates held against the radially outer surfaces of said bars and eachhaving radial openings therein which are enlarged at their radially inner ends, said perforating'pins extending radially through said openings of the plates and having heads at their inner ends which bear against said radially outer surfaces of the bars and are received in said enlarged inner ends of the plate openings, and mounting screws extending radially inward through clearance holes in said bars and being threadably engaged in tapped bores in said body for securing said bars and the associated plates on said body and to permit small displacements of the bars and plates holding pins thereon for accurate alignment of the pins with the corresponding die holes.

. 16. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination of at least one set of rotated male and female die` 13 cylinders respectively provided with patterned arrangements of radially projecting :perforating pins and corresponding die holes adapted to successively receive said pins during rotation of the cylinders and thereby form patterns of perforations in a web passing between the cylinders; said male cylinder comprising a cylindrical body, a circumferentially arranged series of axially extending bars on said body, each of said bars having a radially outward opening groove extending therealong with one side surface of the groove having spaced, radially directed seats receiving the perforating pins and with the opposite side surface of the groove converging toward said one side surface in the radially inward direction, an elongated wedge member received in said groove of each bar and engageable at its opposite sides with the side surfaces of the groove, releasable means forcing the wedge member radially into the groove of the associated bar to secure the pins in said seats of said one side surface of the groove, and mounting screws extending radially inward through clearance holes in said bars and being threadably engaged in tapped bores in said body for securing the pin-holding bars on said body and permitting small displacements of the bars for accurate a1ignment of the pins with the corresponding die holes.

17. In a rotary web perforating device, the combination as in claim 16; wherein said body has axially directed flanges at its opposite ends, and additional mounting screws pass radially outward through clearance holes in said anges and engage threadably in the end portions of said bars to permit initial tightening of said additional mounting screws while the pins of the related bars are engaged in the corresponding die holes.

No references cited.

WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A ROTARY WEB PERFORATING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF AT LEAST ONE SET OF ROTATED MALE AND FEALE DIE CYLINDERS RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH PATTERNED ARRANGEMENTS OF RADIALLY PROJECTING PERFORATING PINS AND CORRESPONDING DIE HOLES ADAPTED TO SUCCESSIVELY RECEIVE SAID PINS DURING ROTATION OF THE CYLINDERS AND THEREBY FORM PATTERNS OF PERFORATIONS IN A WEB PASSING BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS; SAID MALE CYLINDER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL BODY, A SERIES OF PARALLEL PIN HOLDING MEMBERS EXTENDING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION OVER RELATIVELY NARROW SURFACE AREAS OF SAID BODY EACH OF SAID PIN HOLDING MEMBERS HAVING MEANS MOUNT ING A CORRESPONDING GROUP OF THE PERFORATING PINS THEREON, AND SLIGHTLY YIELDABLE MEANS SECURING EACH OF SAID PIN HOLDING MEMBERS ON SAID BODY TO PERMIT SMALL DISPLACEMENTS OF THE HOLDING MEMBER AND OF THE PINS THEREON FOR ACCURATE ALIGNMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING DIE HOLES. 